1st Advantage MortgageIn Watonwan County, Minnesota, the typical household earns $71,699 a year and the typical rent is $834. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Minnesota license first.
On this page
- Watonwan County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Watonwan County
- Renting and owning in Watonwan County
- Jobs and commutes in Watonwan County
- Towns and communities in Watonwan County
- Watonwan County next to its neighbors
- Room for a loan payment in Watonwan County
- Watonwan County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Watonwan County
- Steps before you apply in Watonwan County
- Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Watonwan County by the numbers
Roughly 11,205 residents live in Watonwan County, Minnesota, 65th by population among the state's 87 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 435 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 26 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Watonwan County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. St. James is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 4,767 people (43% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Watonwan County
Watonwan County households have a median income of $71,699 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 57th of 87 in Minnesota.
| Yearly household income | Watonwan County | Gap to Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.4% | +6.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.0% | +2.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.1% | -1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.5% | -7.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 36% of Watonwan County households make $100,000 or more, and 23% make less than $35,000. Census counts 13.2% of Watonwan County residents in poverty, against 9.3% across Minnesota. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.439 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Watonwan County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Renting and owning in Watonwan County
A typical Watonwan County rental runs $834 a month including utilities, which is 35% below Minnesota. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 36% of renter households here. With a median value of $162,400, a typical Watonwan County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 78% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1962.
| Watonwan County | Minnesota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $834/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $162,400 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.8% | 2.9% | n/a |
Because most Watonwan County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Jobs and commutes in Watonwan County
The biggest employer of Watonwan County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (18%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 73% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 7.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Watonwan County workers | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.8% | -1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.9% | +4.6 pts |
| Construction | 10.7% | +4.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.8% | +3.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.5% | +5.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Towns and communities in Watonwan County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Watonwan County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 8,248 people, so roughly 26% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $60,242 in St. James to $76,548 in Madelia. Rent is cheapest in Butterfield ($678) and steepest in St. James ($839). None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. James | city | 4,767 | $60,242 | $839 | 1 mi |
| Madelia | city | 2,327 | $76,548 | $833 | 11 mi |
| Butterfield | city | 535 | $64,083 | $678 | 9 mi |
| Lewisville | city | 255 | $76,250 | $550 | 10 mi |
| Ormsby | city | 136 | $80,625 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Odin | city | 126 | $46,875 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Darfur | city | 74 | $65,500 | n/a | 12 mi |
| La Salle | city | 28 | $56,875 | n/a | 7 mi |
Watonwan County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Watonwan County's, from 19 to 34 miles away. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Watonwan County; Nicollet County is highest at $79,756 and Martin County lowest at $59,507.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watonwan County | - | $71,699 | $834/mo | 78% |
| Brown County, MN | 19 mi | $69,378 | $890/mo | 79% |
| Martin County, MN | 21 mi | $59,507 | $761/mo | 69% |
| Blue Earth County, MN | 28 mi | $74,477 | $1,123/mo | 61% |
| Cottonwood County, MN | 28 mi | $72,941 | $817/mo | 74% |
| Nicollet County, MN | 32 mi | $79,756 | $970/mo | 72% |
| Jackson County, MN | 34 mi | $75,743 | $787/mo | 80% |
Room for a loan payment in Watonwan County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Watonwan County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $5,975 gross per month ($71,699 / 12)
- Median rent: $834, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,317 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,735 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Watonwan County's.
Watonwan County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 17% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 10.7%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| Measure | Watonwan County | Minnesota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.2% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.8% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.7% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.9% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.4% |
| 60+ min | 8.1% |
Before borrowing in Watonwan County
A few patterns in the Watonwan County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Steps before you apply in Watonwan County
Quick steps for Watonwan County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Watonwan County credit union about member loans.
Checking a lender's license in Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Commerce is the place to verify any lender's Minnesota license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Minnesota guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Watonwan County earn?
The median is $71,699; 36% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Watonwan County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $834 a month; 36% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Watonwan County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 78% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover St. James?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Watonwan County, such as Madelia, Butterfield, Lewisville.
Does living in Watonwan County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Watonwan County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.